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"So spill it, Texas," she demands once we’re seated and I’ve poured two neat shots "So," I say "I used to be able to hide ood face that gives you away"

I consider that, and decide that in addition to everything else, Evelyn is a very oman

"Come on Tell Auntie Evelyn"

"Tell you?" I s I wanted you to tell me"

"Oh, hell," she says, then tosses back the drink She slides the glass back towardmy mouth off Don’t listen to me"

"I do listen," I say "And I don’t believe you What’s going on that I don’t know about?"

The corners of her mouth turn down and she shakes her head in exasperation "I just hate it when I see a shitstor I can do about it"

"Carl?"

She bats the naed to keep his business private for almost two decades But that’s about to end, and I’ets past Damien," I say, both because it’s true and because I’ about? He’s already done da to recent atteett to implicate Damien in the death of his sister Damien, thankfully, stopped that ru the truth "The tennis center"

Evelyn’s head cocks warily "What has he told you?"

"Pretty much what he told the press That Richter is an asshole and he’s not going to the dedication cere Evelyn’s face "But I have my suspicions"

Evelyn’s brows lift almost imperceptibly "Have you told Da "But he hasn’t told ht" I watch Evelyn’s expression closely as I speak I know that she represented Damien back in those days, before and after Richter’s death If anyone knohether Richter abused Damien as a child, it’s Evelyn

Her face re, has he?" She doesn’t wait for an answer, but she ht on "He really has fallen for you, Texas, and I couldn’t be happier For both of you I don’t think I’ve ever seen that boy looking so good But goddammit, I wish he’d just show his face at that damn dedication And I could kick the boy in the nuts for that stunt he pulled last night He deserves better than to have the press all over his ass like a piranha with a hard-on"

"Is it really such a big a deal?" I don’t understand why both Evelyn and Damien’s father think that Damien’s statement was such a horrible idea "Maybe it wasn’t the best move to share with the world that he doesn’t like Richter, but all he’s doing is not showing up to an event The way he’s being hounded, you’d think he turned down an invitation fro is that soame to avoid a shitstorm," Evelyn says "And now I’m afraid the storm will hit dead-on"